John Beatty

John Walter Beatty, Esq., age 80, died at his home in Erie, PA on October 30, 2016.

He was born November 8, 1935, in Charleroi, PA, son of the late Carlyle and Helen Munch Beatty. He graduated from Charleroi High School in 1953, where he excelled in basketball (and where he was known as “Big John Beatty”) earning him a scholarship to Bucknell University where he was an accomplished member of the Bison basketball team. John graduated from Bucknell in 1957, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, completing a two year tour of duty in Munich and Berlin, Germany. He was a member of the Military Liaison Unit, coordinating land movements with the Russian Army prior to the building of the Berlin Wall. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1959.

He obtained his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962 and began the practice of law with the firm of Knox, Weber, Pearson and McLaughlin (known currently as Knox McLaughlin Gornall and Sennett). He remained a partner until his retirement in 1999. He specialized in civil litigation work with an emphasis on defending health care professionals in medical malpractice actions. He also served for many years as solicitor for the Erie School District and, in that capacity, was involved in landmark litigation questioning whether non-profits such as hospitals were entitled to exemption from real estate taxes. His success in this litigation resulted in a change in the real estate exemption laws in Pennsylvania. John also served as solicitor for the Millcreek Township School District and as Special Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. He was a member of the Erie County, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations.

John continued his enthusiasm for sports throughout his life, enjoying many years of basketball at the YMCA and other basketball venues, where he was known as “The Big Z.” Skiing, boating, squash, and tennis were other avenues for his athletic pursuits. Golf, however, continued to elude him throughout his life and for which he displayed a love/hate relationship. He was a member of the Erie Yacht Club, the Erie Club, the Erie Maennerchor Club, and was a former member of the Kahkwa Club. He cherished the fifty year camaraderie of his good buddies at their twice yearly weekends at the Cherokee Lodge. In recent years he also spent time at his residence in Fort Pierce, FL.

John is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara Nagle Beatty, a son Michael Beatty (Melissa) of St. Ignace, MI, and a daughter Lauren Beatty Roberts (Tobias) of Florence, MT, five grandchildren, Joshua Sulecki (Brianna of Greenville, PA, Madison and Abigail Beatty of St. Ignace, MI, Jasper and Rayanna Roberts of Florence, MT and one great granddaughter Zoey Sulecki, a brother-in-law “Skip” Nagle (Diane) of Erie, and two nieces, Lisa Rockwell, Lakewood, NY and Leslie Rich (Jim) of Erie, and a step sister-in-law Jeanette Shaw (Jim) of Erie.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street (at Powell Ave.) on Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, and attend a service at St. Stephen Episcopal Church, 1070 Dutch Road, Fairview, PA on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 11 am with Reverend Dr. Donald Baxter and the Reverend Richard Nygaard officiating.

Memorials may be made to Great Lakes Hospice, 1700 Peach Street, Suite 244, Erie PA 16501, or to the Boys and Girls Club of Erie, Inc., 1515 East Lake Road, Erie PA 16511.